Seat unit



Nov. 4, 1941. c. H. OERMANN SEAT UNIT Filed Dec. 27, 1940 5 Sheets$heet l w E. 3 m mm. m O .H.. 3 c. A.@ a. m2 mg m MN. mg as A $8 f m: vw. n: v= m: n m:

Nov. 4, 1941. c. H. OERMANN SEAT UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1940 Snventor C. H. 0 E R MANN (Ittorneg Nov. 4, 1941. c. H. OERMANN SEAT UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 27, 1940 Fig. 7

Bnnentor C. H. O ERMANN W W Gttomeg Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to seat units of the type used in gliders, porch swings, couches, and other articles of furniture for supporting one or more cushions.

The subject matter of the present invention is in part shown and described in y patent application Serial No. 324,311, filed March 16, 1940, and said part is taken from that application in compliance with a requirement of division.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved seat unit in which the spring seatstructure is provided with a sheet metal cover or skirt adapted to form a closure for the front of the spring cushion supporting assembly and to be movable upwardly and downwardly therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring seat structure having a panel fastened only to the upper portion of the spring assembly and arranged to extend across the front of the seat structure so as to conceal the springs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring seat structure having a sheet metal panel extending across the front of. the spring assembly so as to conceal the springs, the panel being secured along its upper longitudinal edge to the upper portion of the spring assembly so that when the springs move downwardly and upwardly the panel will move therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved front closure for the springs of a spring cushion supporting assembly in which the spring closure element is disconnected from the ends of the device and is secured to the spring assembly so as to move downwardly and upwardly therewith.

Other obiects and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein there is illustrated a certain selected form of the seat unit construction embodying the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a glider having a seat unit constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken in a plane between two of the seat cushions shown in Fig. 1 and showing the front portion of the seat unit:

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the manner in which the upper edge portion of the sheet metal panel is secured to the spring cushion assembly;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of the seat unit, showing a modification in the means for retaining the front panel in position with respe'ct to the seat unit; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the invention has been shown applied to a glider III comprising a back I I2, a seat I I3, and end portions I I4, which are all swingingly suspended from a supporting frame in the manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

The seat II3 comprises a lower frame member I I5 for supporting a spring seat structure H6, composed of a plurality of coil springs III arranged in the usual manner, so as to support one or more cushions H8.

The spring seat structure, in addition to the coil springs I I1, may have an upper frame member 9 arranged along the upper front edge thereof.

The upperframe member H9 is connected to the upper coils of the springs II! by means of a suitable fastening device, such as a clip I20 shown in Fig. 4, so as to retain the springs H1 in position in the lower frame member I I5, in well known manner.

At each end of the glider, the supporting frame is formed with a horizontally extending floor engaging member I2I to which is secured a vertical upright member I22.

The seat H3 is suspended from the stationary end members I22 by means of suspension bands or strap hangers I23 and I24, the strap hangers I 23 being connected to the front of the end members I22 and the strap hangers I24 being connected to the rear of said end members, as shown in Fig. 1.

The lower end of each strap hanger, I23 is connected to a bar I25 fixed to the lower frame member I I5, as shown in Fig. 3. Likewise, the lower end of each strap hanger I24 is connected to a bar I26 fixed to the rear of the seat frame in a manner similar to the bar Arranged beneath the seat frame and extending longitudinally of the glider, is a bar I21 which is connected to the stationary end members I22 by braces I28 and I29 (see Figs. 1 and 3).

Mounted on the upper longitudinal frame member H9 of the spring seat assembly, is the upper longitudinal edge I3I of a skirt or panel I32.

The panel I32 is preferably made of thin sheet metal, and may be slightly arcuate in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2. The panel I32 is coextensive with the spring seat assembly and extends downwardly from the upper portion thereof to a point a suitable distance above the floor, so as to provide an apron for concealing the front portion of the glider beneath the cushions I I8.

The ends of the panel I32 are spaced from the end portions I I4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The lower edge portion of the panel can have a strip of suitable material I33 applied to the rear face thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The strip of material I33 serves as a wear surface for engaging the metal parts of the seat frame structure.

For the purpose of attaching the panel I32to the upper frame member H9, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper flange I3I of said panel is. provided at suitable intervals with openings I34, only one of which is shown.

Secured to the upper frame member I I9 of the spring seat assembly, is a plate I35 having an opening I36 therein adapted to be registered with the opening I 34. The plate I35'is arranged beneath the flange I3I of the panel I32, and has an eye I31 encircling the upper frame member I IS.

A screw bolt I 38 is mounted in the: alined openings I34 and I36 with its threaded shank disposeddownwards. A'nut I39 is secrewed on to the threaded shank of the bolt I38, said nut being turned up until it engages the eye I31.

In order to retain the lower portion of the front panel I32 in position and also to prevent the panel from swinging outwardly with respect to the front of the spring seat assembly, an arm or clip MI is secured at one end I 42 to the rear face of the panel I 32, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Preferably the clip MI is so arranged that the free portion of said slip extends behind the bar. I25. The arm or clip I4I can be spaced slightly from the bar I25, as shown in Fig. 2, but should the panel I32 have a tendency to swing outwardly away from. the front of the glider, the arm I4I will engage thebar I25 and thereby limit further outward movement of the panel.

The construction of the panel I32 is such that the lower portion thereof is located at a distance below the spring seat assembly. Since the ends of the panel are disconnected from any portion of the glider frame structure, when the glider is occupied by one or more persons, the weight of whom will compress the springs'H'I and will at the same time force the upper frame member I I9 downwardly towards the lower frame member H5, the panel I32 will also be moved downwardly, since the panel is connected along its upper edge to the upper frame member H9. This downward and upward movement of the panel is in a substantiallyvertical plane.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the means for retaining the front panel in position with respect to the seat unit is shown as comprising a bar I46, the front endof which is rigidly secured to the panel I32 at a point directly beneath the lower frame member H5, as indicated at I4'I, Fig. 6.

The supporting means for the springs H'I may include rods I48 and I43, therods I48 extending lengthwise of the seat unit and the rods I49 extending transversely of the seat unit or at right angles to the rods I48.

The bar I46 may extend from the panel I32 rearwardly to the central portion of the seat unit and may be connected to the intermediate rod I48 by means of an eye I50 formed on the end portion of said bar and encircling the rod I48.

By pivotally connecting one end of the bar I46 to the rod I48 and rigidly attaching the other end of said bar to the panel I32, when the seat unit i occupied and the springs H! are compressed and the panel I32 is moved downwardly with the springs, as has been heretofore described, the bar I46 will retain the panel I32 in such relation to the spring seat unit that said panel is prevented from swinging outwardly or inwardly with respect to the lower frame member H5. Since the lower frame member H5 is not moved relatively to the seat unit structure when the springs H! are compressed or otherwise flexed, the relation of the lower frame member I I5to the ends I I4 always remains the same, and when the springs I I1, after being compressed, expand to their normal uncompressed position and thus cause the panel I32 to slide upwardly with respect to the lower frame member H5, the upward movement of the panel I32 will be limited when the bar I 46 strikes the lower edge of the lower frame member H5. It will, therefore, be noted that the bar I46 retains the panel I32 in the desired position at the front of the seat unit and prevents said panel from moving laterally and also upwardly an excessive amount with respect to the seat unit.

Having thus described my invention; what I claim is:

1. A seat unit comprising a spring cushion supporting assembly including an upper frame member and a lower frame member and a plurality of spring elements securedwithinlsald members for supporting upon the top thereof one ormore cushions, the upper frame member being movable downward towards the lower frame member when the seat is occupied and the springs arecompressed, and. a single sheet metal panel extending the length of the assembly and secured along its upper longitudinal edge to the upper frame member and extending downwardly to a point below the lower frame member of the seat unit so as to conceal the spring elements, the lower longitudinal edge of said panel being free of connection to the lower frame member, said panel being movable as a unit with said upper frame member so that the relation of said panel with respect to the cushion on said seat unit remains substantially the same at all times.

2. A seat unit comprising a spring cushion supporting assembly including an upper frame member and a lower frame member and a plurality of spring elements secured within said members for supporting upon the top thereof one or more cushions, the upper frame member being movable downward towards the lower frame member when the seatis occupiedandthe springs are compressed, a single sheet metal panel extending the length of the assembly and secured along its upper longitudinal edge to the upper frame member and extending downwardly to a point below the lower frame member of the seat unit so as to conceal the spring elements, the lower longitudinal edge of said panel being free of connection to the lower frame member, said panel being movable as a unit with said upper frame member so that the relation of said panel with respect to the cushion on said seat unit remains substantially the same at all times, a bar fixed to the lower frame member and projecting therefrom for attachment to suspension means adapted to swingingly support the. seat unit from a stationary support, and means secured to said panel and engageable with the bar for limiting outward swinging of the panel with respect to the front of the seat unit.

3. A seat unit comprising a spring cushion supporting assembly including an upper frame member and a lower frame member and a plurality of spring elements secured within said members for supporting upon the top thereof one or more cushions, the upper frame member being movable downward towards the lower frame member when the seat is occupied and the springs are compressed, a single sheet metal panel extending the length of the assembly and secured along its upper longitudinal edge to the upper frame member and extending downwardly to a point below the lower frame member of the seat unit so as to conceal the spring elements, the lower longitudinal edge of said panel being free of connection to the lower frame member, said panel being movable as a unit with said upper frame member so that the relation of said panel with respect to the cushion on said seat unit remains substantially the same at all times, and means secured to said' panel and operatively connected with the lower frame member for limiting movement of the panel with respect to the front of the seat unit.

' CARL H. OERMANN. 

